denali bike tour

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Denali Adventure

Level of support - self contained.

On self-contained tours you will carry your own gear and there will be no vehicle support. Adventure Cycling’s traditional self-contained tours have a single leader and around 14 participants who share cooking duties and camp for the vast majority of overnights; on longer tours, roughly one indoor night per 10 riding days is budgeted. Learn More

Physical Difficulty - Level 5

This level is reserved for our most challenging tours which includes our Epic tours (>30 days in length) and tours with big mileages and mountainous terrain. Average daily mileage is typically between 50 and 75 miles per day. Average daily elevation gain is between 2000 and 5000 feet per day with some days possibly exceeding 5000 feet in elevation gain. (Formerly Advanced Tours)

Average Mileage: 50-75/day Average Elevation Gain Range: 2000-5000ft/day, no high limit

Our Denali Adventure tour is a superb way to leave civilization behind and experience Alaska’s stunning terrain on two wheels.

After acquainting ourselves with Anchorage, we’ll set out on the Glenn and Richardson highways, moving from lush farmlands to glacial mountain landscapes. Turning west, we’ll pick up the gravel Denali Highway for 140 miles to Cantwell before taking the George Parks Highway to Denali National Park, home to Mt. Denali and its snowy, 20,320-foot summit. We’ll enjoy a full day of exploration in the park before returning to Anchorage on the scenic Alaska Railroad. Primitive campgrounds and rough roads will reward you with sweeping vistas and the untamed wilderness of the north. By facing these challenges, you’ll gain more than your fair share of enduring memories.

Space still available

“This was an outstanding adventure for me. Our leader and the other cyclists were all great!” – Tour Participant

Day 1. Anchorage, Alaska, 0 miles

You’ll meet your group and tour leader at the Spenard Hostel, an ideal location for bike assembly, map meetings, and easy access to downtown Anchorage, known during the summer months as “The City of Flowers.” After distributing group gear and discussing cooking rotation, we’ll head to bed while it’s still light out, dreaming of our upcoming Alaskan adventures.

Day 2. Anchorage to Palmer, 53 miles

After breakfast, group photos, and quick bicycle safety checks, we’ll follow the bike path out of Anchorage and then head onto the Old Glenn Highway. Today’s ride is mostly flat with minor elevation changes so we’ll be able to concentrate all our energy on spotting wildflowers and watching hawks, eagles, and falcons as they glide overhead. We may even spot a moose, black bear, or grizzly. Tonight we’ll camp alongside the Matanuska River.

Day 3. Palmer to King Mountain Recreation Area, 31 miles

Our ride today will follow the Glenn Highway and the Matanuska River corridor, a popular route for trumpeter swans as well as cyclists. The corridor will take us through some of the most productive farmland in the state of Alaska, where farmers grow enormous vegetables during the brief summer months. We’ll complete three good climbs today before settling in for dinner and rustic riverside camping at King Mountain Recreation Area.

Day 4. King Mountain Recreation Area to Grand View Park & Café, 35 miles

We’ll give our legs a workout today as we tackle several major climbs, including some short eight-percent grades. When we reach Long Lake, we’ll perhaps be rewarded with ripe berries and certainly with stunning views of the 27-mile-long Matanuska Glacier, located in the breathtaking Chugach range. Riders will have the option to trek around on the Matanuska Glaciers with Mica Guides. We’ll end the day’s ride at the Grand View Café, where a cold, pre-dinner beer or a warm slice of pie might tempt you.

Day 5. Grand View Café to Mendeltna Creek Lodge, 45 miles

The first bit of our ride today will be uphill to Eureka Summit (3,322 feet), passing Sheep Mountain Lodge, locally famous for its homemade oatmeal-raisin cookies and cinnamon rolls. In the afternoon, we’ll have an easy ride to our evening destination at Mendeltna Creek Lodge and Campground. Gold in the creeks draining from the Chugach Mountains brought prospectors to this area in the late 1800s, so keep your eyes peeled!

Day 6. Mendeltna Creek Lodge to Glennallen, 49 miles

Our ride today is mostly flat or downhill, which is lucky for us because we’ll want to use all of our energy and senses to take in Gergie, Arizona, and Buffalo lakes and the awe-inspiring taiga. Should you want an excuse to climb off your bicycle and stretch your legs, there should be plenty of wild berries ripe for the picking. Make lots of noise if you do — this is bear country. By the time we cruise through Glennallen, known for its natural beauty and great fishing, the Wrangell Mountains will dominate the skyline.

Day 7. Glennallen to Paxson Lake campground, 61 miles

From our starting point today, we will turn north onto the Richardson Highway, Alaska’s first road. Created in 1898, the highway was improved to serve automobiles in the 1920s and fully paved in the 1950s. The highway features spectacular views of the Alaska and Chugach ranges. We will camp along picturesque Paxson Lake.

Day 8. Paxson Lake to Tangle Lakes, 33 miles

Along with some challenging climbs, today’s ride offers stunning views of the Alaska Range, which runs from Cook Inlet to the magnificent Denali. As we pedal along the Denali Highway, we’ll get a chance to experience the true remoteness of Alaska, brilliant, wide-open sky, and the freshest air imaginable. We’ll also have the opportunity to spot Arctic terns, cliff swallows, bald eagles, and several species of loons.

Day 9. Tangle Lakes to Crazy Dog Kennels, 21 miles

At the very start of the day, we will transition from paved to hard-packed gravel roads. We will cross McLaren Pass, the second-highest pass in Alaska and the highest on the Alaskan Highway System. At the summit we can take a break to wonder at Alaska’s beauty before enjoying a screaming downhill to the McLaren River, just a few miles from the Continental Divide. We will stay at a working sled-dog kennel on the banks of the McLaren River.

Day 10. Crazy Dog Kennels Layover Day, 0 miles

The river at this location is fed from the nearby McLaren Glacier in the Alaska Range. With the kennel right there, sled dog rides will be available, weather permitting. Petting the dogs will be a necessity. With the long days, there is ample light for enjoying the evening too.

Day 11. McLaren River to Gracious House, 39 miles

Today’s ride along the Denali Highway features first-rate scenery the entire way, with essentially no traffic and no major climbs. You’ll want to keep on the lookout for wildlife as this route is home to bears, pikas, moose, caribou, beaver, and foxes, just to name a few. We’ll cross the Susitna River, then make camp and cook dinner in the presence of glistening glaciers.

Day 12. Gracious House to Cantwell, 52 miles

After a few short, steep climbs today, we’ll be rewarded with views of the towering Alaska Range, 12,300-foot Mt. Deborah, and permafrost-stunted, boreal forest made up primarily of black spruce trees. After we cross the Nenana River, we’ll be treated to one of the grandest vistas on Earth: North America’s highest peak, Denali. With approximately 80 percent of its 20,320-foot elevation rising above the surrounding landscape, Denali’s base-to-summit elevation is actually greater than that of Mt. Everest.

Day 13. Cantwell to Denali National Park, 31 miles

We’ll bid farewell to the Denali Highway today, switching back to pavement on the George Parks Highway, our road to the monster cinnamon rolls at the McKinley Creekside Roadhouse. Today’s ride is mostly downhill, so we’ll enjoy a speedy ride to Denali National Park and our celebration dinner.

Day 14. Denali National Park Layover Day, 0 miles

Spend the day in Denali to explore this incredible piece of Alaska. You’ll have your pick of shuttle bus tours, wildlife tours, rafting, hiking, and cycling throughout the area. Hopefully we will be among the 30 percent of visitors to whom Denali reveals itself, given the ever-changing weather in the park.

Day 15. Denali National Park to Anchorage Train, 0 miles

On this, our last day, we head back to Anchorage around noon on the scenic Alaska Railroad. The conductors will actually slow the train down if they spot bears, sheep, eagles, or salmon swimming upstream! We’ll arrive in Anchorage around 8:00 PM, with photographs and memories of our epic journey to last a lifetime.

Accommodations -

Meals - shared cooking.

Your group will share responsibilities for food purchase, preparation, and clean up on a rotating basis. Vegetarian and special dietary needs will be accommodated, though food selection may be limited in some locations.

Physical Difficulty -

Technical difficulty - easy.

Characterized by travel mostly on hard-packed dirt roads and trails, Easy Technical Difficulty tours can be ridden on a rigid-frame bike with a tire size of 35-42mm.

Terrain - Mountainous

Mountainous terrain will get your legs burning! These tours average more than 3,500 feet of climbing each day, and have spectacular descents to make it all worthwhile. Some tours may also be listed as mountainous if they regularly have steep grades over 8%. (75+ vertical feet/mile).

Bike Denali

Independent bike rentals.

Explore Denali by Bicycle

Denali National Park Bike Rentals

Providing you personal insight and a private vehicle in Denali National Park

When visiting Alaska, experiencing solitude is important to gain an understanding of the land and place.   Independence, a quality which defines the state, reflects upon this understanding.   Visitors to Denali National Park who are equipped with local knowledge and the appropriate gear will be rewarded with a richer and more fulfilling experience.  At Bike Denali, our goal is to assist our customers with insight and resources that heighten the Denali Experience.

Bike and e-bike package rentals are fully refundable up to 7 days before the scheduled date.  Rentals are then refundable at 90% up to 48 hours prior, and 70% thereafter.

Rent an e-bike from Bike Denali and discover the perfect way to explore the front country of Denali National Park! Steep hills? No problem, our e-bikes will let you charge right up! We have a fleet of e-bikes in both step-through and step-over models. These amazing machines will allow you to experience Denali like never before. 

Choose our 4-hour or 8-hour Front Country e-bike packages to enjoy the 32 mile round trip ride to Savage River and back and enjoy activities along the paved portion of the Park Road near the entrance. 

Our Back Country e-bike package options range from 12 to 72 hours. These e-bikes allow exploration deeper into the park can be transported on transit or shuttle buses. You have the option to rent additional batteries. E-bike packages for 24 hours and longer include a battery charger.

Bikepacking

If you want independence and flexibility within Denali National Park, our Bikepacking Outfits are for you!

Denali Park Road packages include a Trek Marlin mountain bike with a rear rack, choice of panniers, bear spray, helmet, repair kit, rain poncho and car rack. A handlebar cradle and bear can included for campers. The 24 minimum rental is A 24 hour rental allows you to see Denali Park up to Mile 43 where the road is closed to vehicle traffic. Longer term rentals expand your opportunity for bikepacking and camping in Denali Park beyond the road closure. Our Park Road Package is a great way to discover the beautiful wild country of Denali beyond the front country paths.

Bike Denali can assist you with your back country trip planning and provide outfitting to carry your camping gear. We also offer transit bus tickets.

Gravel Bikes

For experienced riders, gravel bikes are a fun Park option. Rental options of 24 hours to 72 hours offer riders opportunities to cover a lot of ground along the Park Road. They can easily be transported on your own vehicle or on shuttle and transit buses.

Our Marin Gestalt X-10 gravel bikes are equipped with drop bars and wide range 1×10 drive trains. Each gravel bike package includes a helmet, lock, handlebar bag, bear spray, repair kit, and car rack.

Day Bike Options

Our 8 hour day bike rentals allow you to enjoy a full day of independence in Denali Park! You can load your bike on a shuttle bus or transit bus to explore the Park road up to the road closure at mile 43.

You can choose either a Trek mountain bike or a Marin gravel bike. All of our 8 hour Denali Park Road packages include a helmet, lock, bear spray, repair kit, and car rack. A mountain bike rental includes a rear rack and small pannier. The gravel bike rental includes a handlebar bag.

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Denali National Park Bicycling Tours & Trips

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• Easy Active
• Scheduled Group Tour
• Solo Travel
• Wildlife & Safari Exploration
• Helicopter Tours
• Urban Exploration
• Village Visits
• Whitewater Rafting
• Wilderness Lodge Exploration
• Wildlife Viewing
• Denali National Park

Denali Backcountry Lodge

• Learn the natural history of Denali
• Watch for bears, caribou, & moose
• Walk to Fannie Quigley's cabin
• Hiking, fishing, & biking options

Exploring Alaska: Hiking, Cycling and Kayaking Tour

• Experience the rugged Denali Park
• Cycle on Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
• Kayak in Resurrection Bay
• Hike the Triple Lakes Trail

Best of Alaska

• Experience the scenery of Alaska
• Explore Denali National Park.
• Discover Seward's bustling harbors
• Cruise in Prince William Sound

Top Denali National Park Travel Destinations

Denali national park trips by departure date.

• 2024 Denali National Park trips (7)
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Top Experiences in Denali National Park

• Denali National Park Land Tours (7)
• Denali National Park Scheduled Group Tour (3)
• Denali National Park Wildlife & Safari Exploration (3)
• Denali National Park Trekking (3)
• Denali National Park Active (3)

Denali National Park Trips by Duration

• 6 day trips (5)
• 7 day trips (3)

Denali National Park Trips by Activity

• Denali National Park hiking (7)
• Denali National Park wildlife viewing (5)
• Denali National Park wilderness lodge exploration (3)
• Denali National Park fishing (3)
• Denali National Park biking (3)

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A Great Way to Experience Denali National Park & Preserve!

For a day-trip, you are welcome to either start your bike ride at the park entrance or drive to Savage River and begin cycling farther into the park from there. Alternatively, you may buy tickets for a Transit Bus, ride the bus into the park, and get off at whatever point you choose to start cycling. This allows you to tailor just what parts of the Park Road you ride! Buses are limited to two bikes per bus, and not every shuttle is able to carry bikes.

Transit Bus Bike Racks

Please note that bikes such as fat tire, recumbent, tandem or motorized will not fit in the standard-size racks on Denali transit buses. "Standard size" in this case means up to a 29” tire, with a max tire width (without deflating) of 2.3." Be sure to bring your own pump in case you need to slightly deflate your tire to squeeze it into the rack. Accommodations for larger dimensions are sometimes available on a camper bus.

Bus Bike Accommodations

All Transit buses can accommodate up to two (2) bicycles. If you choose to reserve a bus in advance, please call our reservations line at 1.800.622.7275 and specify that you wish to bring bikes on your Transit bus. Advance reservations are recommended! Reservations are taken only for westbound buses (further into the Park). Eastbound travel by bus is on a first-come, first-served basis.

A ticket is required to board all buses, including eastbound (out of the park) travel.  Tickets must be purchased online or at the Denali Bus Depot.

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National Park Guide

The ultimate travel guide for an epic denali national park adventure.

*Closure notice: You cannot access facilities and services past Mile 43 (including Wonder Lake) due to the destruction and closure of Denali Park Road, caused by the Pretty Rocks Landslide. The road is expected to remain closed through summer 2026.

Want a glimpse of life in one of the most remote, rugged, and scenic places? Get your butt to Denali National Park in Alaska!

Located between Anchorage and Fairbanks in Alaska, Denali spans over an insane 6 million acres of tranquil, rugged wilderness. Denali National Park & Preserve is home to not only the world’s most resilient wildlife but also the tallest peak in North America - Mount Denali. If you are one of the lucky ones, you might be able to catch a glimpse of Denali towering in the sky (20,310 feet to be exact). 

In July 2022, I spent 3 days and 2 nights hiking and exploring Denali's summer landscape, admiring the elusive wildlife, with the hopes of just a glimpse of Mount Denali. Even after spending my nights camping inside Denali, I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what makes Denali National Park so magical. 

I created this Denali National Park travel guide so that you can make the most of your time in one of the most beautiful places in Alaska. In this trip planning guide, I’ll show you:

• How to get to Denali from Anchorage (even if you don’t have a car)
• Denali must-do activities (even family-friendly things to do) and how to get around in the park.
• What camping inside Denali is like
• How to prepare for your Denali trip in the summer

Fast Facts About Denali National Park

• Location: Interior Alaska
• Size: 6 million acres
• Entrance Fee: $15 per person (annual national park pass is accepted)
• Activities: hiking, biking, camping, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, snowshoeing, helicopter tour, white water rafting

Everything You Need to Know About Denali

Download the denali travel guide for free.

Best Time to Visit 

Deciding when to visit Denali National Park depends on the kind of experience you want to have. Are you looking to travel deep into the park and enjoy endless daylight? Or are you looking for a more remote, snowy experience? 

Planning your trip will also depend on the Denali National Park weather you’re prepared to handle.

I traveled to Denali National Park in mid-July of 2022, when hiking and camping weather was the best, I had 20+ hours of daylight for adventuring, and public buses were available. However, the park was busy and rain did make an appearance.

Denali in Summer

Although it is open all year round, the best time to visit Denali National Park is during the summer months, from mid-May to mid-September when the park’s facilities and bus services are fully operational. Visiting Denali National Park in mid-July not only means comfortable temperatures (highs in the mid-70s, lows in the mid-40s) but also 20 hours of sunlight…imagine how much exploring you can do with that amount of daylight!

However, the downside of visiting Denali during the summer is that June, July, and August are the rainiest months of the year . It’s insane how things work out, but fortunately, the only time it rained on me was when we were traveling into and out of the park! Which made hiking and camping in Denali that much more comfortable and productive. 

Denali in Spring and Fall

If you’re looking for a quieter, more unique Denali experience, visit the park during spring and fall when there is no public transportation available and services are limited. This means you will need to have your own car to explore Denali. 

During spring and fall, enjoy shimmering, snow-capped mountains and wildlife activity as animals either emerge from winter or prepare for the deep freeze. 

Denali in Winter

Even with freezing temperatures, layers of thick snow, and only 4 hours of daylight, Denali is still open during winter! However, you can still make the most of your Denali adventure during these short days by snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, or even winter biking. 

Since Denali Park Road typically closes at Mile 3 (the park’s headquarters), you cannot explore deep into the heart of Denali.

How to Explore Denali - Epic Things To Do

Since Denali is insanely massive, you’ll never feel like you’ve truly experienced the ins and outs of the entire park. Luckily, there are so many things to do and ways to explore to help you get the most out of your visit to Denali. 

Hiking in Denali

You’ll find many visitors hiking along the front-country trails or backpacking through the backcountry. Hiking is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the serene landscape of Denali and look for wildlife!

Fortunately, there is a trail for every hiking level. The majority of the hiking trailheads are either located by the visitor’s center or at Mile 15 by the Savage River area. 

My favorite hikes in Denali National Park were along the rushing Savage River on the Savage River Loop and the 4-mile (round trip) hike from Mile 43 to the Pretty Rock Landslide and views of the vibrant colors of Polychrome Mountain. Both of these Denali day hikes are family-friendly !  

Bike Through Denali

Feeling active or craving a challenge? Tour Denali by cycling along Denali Park Road! Although vehicles are not allowed past Mile 15, bikes are.

Just make sure to be familiar with biking safety guidelines and Denali wildlife safety before your cycling adventure. 

Ride the Denali Transit Bus

Explore Denali National Park past Mile 15, where only buses, bikes, and hikers are allowed access. Beyond Mile 15, there are more chances of wildlife sightings, including bears, sheep, and moose, due to less vehicle and noise congestion. 

My bus driver provided excellent historical and wildlife knowledge about the park and gave us time to gawk at the wildlife we found along the way! Although I saw plenty of Dall sheep, I apparently missed out on the moose and her baby that was spotted before I hopped on the bus. Next time I guess?!

Search for Mount Denali

Many visitors come to Denali National Park for a chance to spot the elusive Mount Denali. Since the weather is constantly changing, only about 30% of park visitors are lucky enough to see Denali. However, if the skies clear up, even just for a few minutes, head to one of the viewpoints for a chance to see Denali in all her glory. Below are some places you can head to for your best chances of seeing Mount Denali:

• There is a pull-out point (and a mountain interpretive map) at Mile 11 on Denali Park Road. I sat here for about an hour on my way out of the park…sadly, I had zero luck. 
• Along the higher points on the bus ride past Mile 15. My brother caught an epic view while he was camping at Wonder Lake.
• I camped in Savage Campground and found a spot by the group camp area to search for Mount Denali. Others had seen Denali for a few minutes early morning from that spot. Again, I had no luck!

Unfortunately, you cannot see Denali from the park entrance, since that area is too low for any kind of visibility.

Visit the Sled Dogs

This one was the most fun and cutest thing I did in Denali…I was barely able to contain myself the whole time!

The park offers daily sled dog demonstrations at the kennels located at the park’s headquarters. Not only do you get to learn about the historical and current-day importance of sled dogs, but you can visit and pet the sled dogs themselves!

Even though the timing of my trip wasn’t lucky in terms of seeing Denali itself, I was pretty lucky to be able to see (and maybe even cry over) the 3-week-old sled dog puppies.

Visiting the sled dog kennels is not only one of those Denali things to do that’s great for the family, but it’s a must-see for everyone. Even my brother, who is admittedly not a “dog person” (I know, I don’t understand either), absolutely loved playing with the sled dogs!

Get Lost in Denali’s Historical and Wildlife Exhibit

I spent my first day in Denali strolling through the extremely interactive exhibit, located in the park’s visitor center. 

Not only is there a complete section dedicated to the various and unique wildlife and ecosystems that make Denali so special, but there’s also a section for you to jump back in time and learn about the Denali natives and the historical evolution of the park.

Visiting the exhibits on my first day in Denali provided me with some excellent context to the park before fully immersing myself in hikes and bus rides.

How to See Denali with Kids

Denali National Park is incredibly family-friendly. Not only are there several hiking trails that are great to do with kids, but families can enjoy exploring the interactive exhibits together at the visitor center. 

If you want to explore the park beyond Mile 15, the bus ride is great for the entire family to search for wildlife together. 

How Long to Stay

I spent 3 days and 2 nights exploring Denali National Park’s must-see spots and more, which I personally felt was the perfect amount of time to fully explore without rushing . 

Here’s an overview of how I spent 3 days, and 2 nights adventuring in Denali:

• Day 1 - spent half the day traveling from Anchorage. The remaining half of the day was dedicated to exploring the area by the visitor’s center, like nerding out at the museum and hiking some of the scenic trails.  
• Day 2 - explored the park by bus. I took the non-narrated transit but beyond Savage River (Mile 15) to search for wildlife and hike to the Pretty Rock Landslide in hopes of a glimpse of Mount Denali. With a few hours to spare, I headed to the Sled Dog Kennels to play with the sled dogs and see the 3-week-old puppies!
• Day 3 - hiked the Savage River Loop before heading back to Anchorage.

Even though one day in Denali National Park is not enough (I mean, the park is 6 million acres big!), it’s still worth a visit if that’s all the time you have. There are plenty of activities and things to do that will fit your itinerary.

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Denali? Fees, Permits, and Passes

• Denali entrance fee: $15/person (free for anybody 15 years of age or younger)
• Is the annual America the Beautiful national park pass accepted? Yes
• Other fees for visiting Denali: bus fee, camping fee
• Are permits required? Only for backpacking and mountaineering. Permits are free.

Denali Entrance Fee

You are charged an entrance fee year-round to visit Denali National Park. The fee to enter Denali is $15 per person and is valid for 7 days. Anybody 15 years of age or younger does not have to pay the entrance fee. You can pay the entrance fee online or at the park’s visitor center or bus depot. 

The America the Beautiful annual national park pass is accepted. 

However, if you’re looking to enter Denali National Park for free , visit on one of these days:

• January: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mid-April: First day of National Park Week
• Early August: Great America Outdoors Act anniversary
• Late September: National Public Lands Da y
• Early November: Veteran’s Day

In addition to the entrance fee, there may be other costs you have to pay to visit Denali National Park. To explore the park past Mile 15 , you will need to ride one of the park’s buses (see the "Getting Around Denali" section) since the road past this point is closed to private vehicles. Depending on which bus you decide to ride (non-narrated transit bus or narrated tour bus), Denali bus tickets will cost you between $30 - $128 per person. Purchasing bus tickets in advance is highly recommended and can be made online , by phone (1-800-622-7275), or in person at the Denali Bus Depot. 

Camping Fee 

To camp inside Denali National Park during summer (mid-May through mid-September), you can expect to pay $19.25 - $49 per night. To camp in Savage River Campground, I paid $16 per night…I must’ve made the reservation before the price increase!

Although permits are required for anybody backpacking or mountaineering in Denali, permits are free. You can get your backcountry permits from the Denali Bus Depot or the Backcountry Information Center.

How to Get to Denali National Park by Car, Bus, or Train

Getting to Denali National Park is extremely easy since there are multiple ways to get there, even if you don’t have a car! Although I rented a car from the Anchorage airport, you do not need to have a car to get to Denali National Park . For a more unique (and oftentimes a more affordable) experience, you can ride the scenic train or bus into the park!

There are two large cities that you can fly into to get to Denali National Park: Anchorage (located 240 miles south of the park) and Fairbanks (located 120 miles north of the park). This means you’ll have more options for finding more affordable flights to fit your budget!

How to Get to Denali National Park by Car

If you’re looking for the fastest way to get to Denali National Park, driving will be your best bet. 

The drive from Anchorage to Denali National Park is a very easy and scenic 4-hour drive from Anchorage and 2 hours 15-minute drive from Fairbanks. 

Since my family and I were traveling camping gear and food, my family and I decided to rent a car from the Anchorage airport and drive to Denali National Park. That scenery along that drive was not only so captivating the whole way, but it was action-packed! Within the first hour of the drive, we saw a moose trotting alongside the highway!

If you’re road tripping, Talkeetna is a charming, historic town that’s worth stopping at along your drive from Anchorage to Denali. Although we didn’t initially plan on stopping, we made a game-time decision to stop in Talkeetna on our drive…and I’m so glad we did!

We strolled through the two blocks of Talkeetna to pop through souvenir shops, admire historical homes, and enjoy a drink at one of the breweries before fangirling over Denali, Talkeetna’s unofficial cat mayor ! 

There are plenty of gas stations along the drive from Anchorage to Denali, so don’t forget to fuel up before entering the park.

How to Get to Denali National Park by Bus

Don’t have a car to drive to Denali National Park? No worries! The cheapest way to travel from Anchorage to Denali is by bus. 

Two bus trips run daily from Anchorage to Denali and make quick stops to the tiny, charming town of Talkeetna. Once in Denali, buses have multiple drop-off locations available to you, including the Denali Cabins, Village, and Train Depot.

• Morning bus from Anchorage - arrives in Denali early afternoon
• Afternoon bus from Anchorage - arrives in Denali in the evening

Tickets to ride the bus from Anchorage to Denali cost $100/adult and $50/child (0-11 years old). During the summer months, I’d recommend purchasing tickets in advance.

Unfortunately, there is no direct bus from Fairbanks to Denali National Park.

How to Get to Denali National Park by Train

Another way you can get to Denali National Park without a car is to ride the Denali Star Train . 

However, it will take twice as long to get to Denali by train than by driving. From Anchorage, the train ride takes about 7.5 hours to get to Denali (tickets starting at $144 per adult). If you’re coming from Fairbanks, the train takes about 4 hours to get to Denali (tickets starting at $64 per adult). I’d recommend booking train tickets in advance, especially during the summer months.

If you aren’t rushed for time (or don’t have a car), the train is an exciting, more intimate way to travel to Denali. The train ride to the park is incredibly scenic as it snakes through the tundra landscape and is another great opportunity to actively search for wildlife. Throughout the trip, enjoy the narration from the onboard host and learn more about what makes Alaska one of the most breathtaking places in the world!

Although I didn’t take the train from Anchorage to Denali, riding this scenic train from Seward to Anchorage was one of the highlights of my Alaska trip!

Getting Around Denali

One of the most unique things about Denali National Park is the fact that there is only one road to travel along! With only a single road, you get to intimately experience the park’s unaltered scenery and protected wildlife with fewer crowds and noise congestion. Pure magic! 

Traveling on the First 15 Miles in Denali

Of the 92 miles of Denali Park Road, private (non-commercial) vehicles are only allowed to drive the first 15 miles from the park entrance to Savage River, where the road is paved. Along this part of the road, you’ll have the opportunity to scope for wildlife and stop at one of the vehicle pull-outs for a glimpse of Mount Denali if the clouds clear.

If you are visiting Denali in spring or fall, check for road closures due to heavy snow before arriving at the park. 

Don’t have a car in Denali? You can ride the Savage River Shuttle , the park’s free shuttle that travels along the first 15 miles from Denali’s entrance to Savage River. Denali’s free shuttle stops at campgrounds and trails along the way.

Traveling Beyond Mile 15 (Savage River) in Denali

*Note as of 5/20/22: due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide, a section of Denali Park Road was destroyed and will remain closed through summer 2023. Buses currently cannot drive past Mile 43. 

Since the road becomes one-way and unpaved beyond Mile 15, you can only travel past Savage River on a bus, bike, or by hiking. There is a ranger station at Savage River to regulate access beyond Mile 15. 

Bus service runs from mid-May through mid-September .

There are two types of transit buses you can ride on past Mile 15:

• Non-narrated Transit Buses: the cheaper of the two bus options. These green buses simply transport visitors around the park, making regular restroom and wildlife stops. Drivers only provide basic park information and are not required to provide riders with narrated, interpretive talks. Transit buses allow riders to hop on and off at any point along the drive. Tickets for the non-narrated transit buses are $30 per person (15 years and under are free). 
• Narrated Tour Buses: drivers provide detailed narration along your tour of Denali Park Road. In addition to the restroom and wildlife stops, these tan tour buses offer either a snack or lunch. Based on the amount of time you have in the park, you can choose from one of many tour itineraries that fit your schedule. Tickets for the narrated tour buses range from $104 - $240.75 per person . 

Due to limited capacities during timeslots, it's highly recommended to purchase your bus tickets in advance online . You can also reserve your bus ticket at the Denali Bus Depot.

If you are trying to decide if it’s worth booking a bus ticket to travel past Mile 15 (Savage River), I think it’s absolutely worth it! Since this part of the park has less vehicle congestion, wildlife seemed to be more active in these areas. Although we didn’t see any bears, our bus saw a moose, baby ptarmigans, marmots, and tons of Dall sheep!

Hiking to the Pretty Rock Landslide and getting lost in the swirling colors of Polychrome Mountain at Mile 45 reminded me of mother nature’s power and beauty, making this one of the highlights of my Denali trip. 

Camping Inside Denali

*Note as of 5/20/22: Wonder Lake Campground is closed for 2022.

You already know how much I love to camp. Not only is camping a cheap way to travel if you’re on a budget, but there’s truly nothing more mentally freeing than being able to disconnect, camp under the trees, and fall asleep to the sound of the billowing winds. 

I camped at Savage River Campground, one of the 6 campgrounds inside Denali National Park . With only 32 campsites in Savage River Campground, exploring the park around the campground after hours was an intimate and memorable experience. When the crowds leave the park for the day, Denali seems to truly come to life! The moose take advantage of the calmness and emerge from the woods. The babbling of Savage River seemed louder in the stillness and the skies turned into a swirling sorbet masterpiece during midnight sunset. But the cherry on top of an already epic day was falling asleep in my tent to the loud hooting of owls. 

Instead of flying all of my camping gear from Las Vegas to Alaska, I rented camping gear, including a tent, sleeping pads, and sleep bags, from the REI in Anchorage. The only thing I brought from home was my Jetboil for making morning coffee and ramen for dinner. 

Although I brought all of the food I needed for the 3 days I spent inside Denali, you don’t have to. You can buy food and other supplies (fuel, firewood, etc.) at the Riley Creek Mercantile or eat at the Morino Grill. 

If you want that unique, one-on-one experience with the park, camp inside Denali. Just make sure to book your campsite as early as possible (I booked my campsite 6 months in advance). It costs anywhere from $19.25 - $49.00 per night ( $9.75 - $20.00 per night with the annual national park pass) to camp at any of the campgrounds in Denali.  

If you prefer not to camp, there are plenty of lodging and hotels to stay at both inside and outside of Denali National Park. There are a handful of hotels right outside the entrance of the park. Otherwise, the closest town to stay in near Denali is Healy, Alaska, about a 20-minute drive from the Denali Visitor Center. 

What to know about Denali before Going

• Denali Park Road is closed to all traffic at Mile 43 through summer 2023 due to the ongoing Pretty Rocks landslide. This means the Denali bus can only go as far as Mile 43 and Wonder Lake Campground is closed.
• You can drive your own vehicle from the park entrance up to Mile 15 in Denali. To go beyond Mile 15, you will need to ride a bus or bike. 
• When buses run during the summer season (mid-May - mid-September), you don’t need a car in Denali.
• Mosquitos are prevalent and aggressive during the summer months. Bug spray and a mosquito face net are recommended.  
• Summer is the rainiest season in Denali. Make sure to bring rain gear if you’re visiting Denali in June, July, or August.  
• Advanced reservations for camping inside Denali and riding the Denali bus are highly recommended. 

Packing List For Denali National Park

What to bring for your trip to Denali depends on when you plan on visiting, your activities, and how long you’re going. However, here is a general list of what I recommend you bring on your trip to Denali:

• Hiking day pack
• Hiking shoes
• Sweatshirt or mid-layer
• Hat or beanie
• Rain jacket
• Mosquito repellent
• Mosquito head net
• Water bottle

So what are you waiting for? Haven’t I convinced you enough to add Denali National Park to your adventure bucket list?!

Whether you’re trying to see all of the national parks or planning a trip to Alaska, Denali is worth the visit.

*This post contains affiliate links for products that I have used myself and genuinely love. All opinions expressed are honest and mine. If you make a purchase through any of these affiliate links, I receive a small compensation at no additional cost to you. Since The Adventure Diet is reader-supported, any purchases you make will support running this blog at now cost to you! As always, thank you for your never-ending support.

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GMC Denali Road Bike Review

IMPORTANT! Currently unavailable! See best road bikes for beginners review

Even though this bike has a GMC badge it’s produced by Kent International. In my opinion, this is a good sign since a company, with many years of experience, is producing the bikes, and it’s not a company that, although they might be very good at making cars, are just starting out in the cycling industry.

They are a family-owned company dating back to the early 1900s. Kent possesses the licensing rights to 5 external brands, as well as their own. These brands are Jeep, GMC Razor Cadillac, and Little Miss Match bicycles.

The GMC Denali Road bike is clearly an entry-level bike, that is available in 3 sizes (Large, Medium, and Small). Many people have commented that they are sized a bit larger than normal, but a sizing chart is available on their website that clears things up.

Bottom Line

Gmc denali road bike.

The GMC Denali road bike is built around an aluminum frame and fork. Component-wise it’s pretty much what you would expect for a road bike under $200.

Shimano derailleur and shifters are stock on this bike and the brakes are advertised as “alloy calipers” but there are no other markings that can be used to identify them. The bike rolls on 700c size wheels , which is great since it’s the most common size and there are plenty replacement tires and tubes available. The alloy rims are what’s known as high-profile, this means that they are taller than regular spoke rims.

The added height gives the wheel more stiffness and better aerodynamics. High-profile rims can be considered the middle ground between disk and regular spoke wheels.

The biggest pro for this bike is its price. It’s one of the cheapest options available . The different sizes available make it easy to find the right size for you.

GMC Denali is relatively lightweight and strong considering the price point and performs excellently.

However, the GMC Denali road bike is not without its cons . The biggest deal for me is the seat, it is stiff and uncomfortable, but this might not be the case for other people. the added kickstand is very flimsy and weak, people have complained that it broke off after a few rides. Also, the brake pads are very stiff and don’t feel very responsive. Most people agree that you need to squeeze the brake levers very hard and it still doesn’t feel like you are slowing down fast enough. One thing to keep in mind is that this bike isn’t completely assembled , and some mechanical skill is required. This isn’t necessarily a con but you might want to factor in the cost of assembly by an experienced mechanic before buying. A proper tune-up and inspection is vital to make this bike function properly.

The bottom line is that this GMC Denali road bike is a great deal . This is a bike that costs less than Shimano’s highest-end derailleur, and still, it performs well enough for most users, especially if you are just starting out It is a good idea to upgrade a few components right out of the gate (seat, pedals, etc.) in order to be more comfortable, but even without swapping out parts, it’s a great bike for a new or recreational rider.

Currently unavailable! Read best road bikes for beginners review

However, if you plan on taking road cycling seriously it might be a better idea to save up a bit more and buy a higher-end product. But for entry-level riders, this Denali is just great!

• Good Geometry
• Shimano Components
• Three sizes
• Seat is stiff and uncomfortable
• Assembly needed

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75 thoughts on “ gmc denali road bike review ”.

More of a question than a reply but I have the GMC Denali pictures in the beginning of this my question is the back room are they stocked do they come with a fixed gear on the other side of the cog?

Hi Steven, Can you clarify what you mean by “fixed gear on the other side of the cog?”

where can I purchase a fork for that bike ?

Hi Ray, Seems like GMC Denali road bike is out of stock. Your Local Bike Shop might help you out 🙂

Ray, I had a disaster on my Denali Black/Green bike whereby the “steerer tube” broke (fortunately minimal injury). In replacing the fork/steerer tube, I was in conversation with Roy Davidson of Kent Bikes and although the specific fork for the Denali was out of production, we decided that the Kent Saber (white/red) was essentially the same bike and its fork was available. Sure enough it was a perfect replacement. Don’t know is Kent still has the Saber fork available. Be sure to get fork for same size bike as your original. Here is Roy’s email address [email protected] .

Anyone know where i can get replacement stickers or decals for a Denali bike? tried Kent but no reply. thanks for any help

Hi Gene, Have you tried these?: Customer Service Support Mon – Fri | 8am to 4pm 1.800.451.5368/ 973.434.8181 They also have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KentBikes/

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The ULTIMATE guide to visiting Denali National Park (Things to do, road closure info, & itineraries!)

Last updated on January 26th, 2024

Visiting Denali National Park? In this guide we’re sharing the best things to do in Denali National Park, plus where to stay, tours we recommend, and more! After spending 5 months driving to Alaska , including an epic drive on the Alaska Highway , we finally made it to the Last Frontier and our first stop? Denali National Park and Preserve! It felt fitting to kick off our 2.5 months in the state, after such an incredible journey to get there, with the tallest mountain not only in Alaska, but in North America! We spent a total of 4 days in the park and experienced as much of it as we possibly could, including short day hikes, riding the bus, going on an off trail adventure, and seeing adorable sled dogs.

Watch our first time in Denali National Park , where we explored the first 15 miles of the park, plus our experience camping and hiking in Denali National Park past mile 15 !

And in this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know before visiting Denali National Park, including important road closures, how to navigate the park, the best things to do in Denali, itinerary options, and more!

Looking for more things to do in Alaska?

• How to camp at the Teklanika River Campground in Denali National Park
• Hiking the Horseshoe Lake Trail at Denali National Park
• How to hike the Savage Alpine Trail (+ Savage River Loop Trail) in Denali National Park
• Hiking the Mount Healy Overlook Trail at Denali National Park
• The 24 BEST hikes in Alaska
• Things to do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
• The BEST things to do at Kenai Fjords National Park
• RVing Alaska: Our top tips & things to know!
• The ULTIMATE Guide to Driving the Alaska Highway
• Summer Alaska Packing List
• How to spend 7 days in Alaska (4 itinerary options!)
• All of our Alaska vlogs
• All of our Canadian vlogs
• All of our Alaska guides

About Denali National Park

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Denali National Park is home to Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, at 20,310 feet. It was first established as a national park in 1917, originally called Mount McKinley National Park, but in 1980, the park was renamed to Denali National Park and Preserve and in 2015, the mountain itself was renamed to Denali, which is a Koyukon Athabascan word that means “The Great One.”  Besides its monumental peak, the park is home to 6 million acres of wilderness, full of other beautiful mountains, taiga and tundra terrain, glaciers, and tons of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and dall sheep, just to name a few! Note: Denali is pronounced “Den-alley” not “Den-ollie,” despite what many people think (we blame GMC for mispronouncing their SUV name!). While how to pronounce Denali is a heated topic, as evidenced by our YouTube comments, our research using this article , plus this video from Chief Mitch Demientieff , and this video from the Denali Borough mayor , made us feel pretty confident that it is in fact “Den-alley.” While this may not matter to those who aren’t making YouTube videos and saying the name publicly, we do think it’s important to learn the proper pronunciation of words and places, especially when they have indigenous origins.

Before embarking on your adventure, please review the  Leave No Trace principles  to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come! These seven principles include planning ahead and preparing, hiking and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly (pack out what you pack in!), understanding campfire rules and always fully extinguishing your fires, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors. 

Understanding the different areas of Denali National Park

Alaska is home to 8 US national parks, many of which require a plane or boat to get to, and Denali National Park is one of the most accessible, as it’s reachable by car. However, it is quite a bit different than most national parks and before we dive into the best things to do in Denali National Park, plus other logistical information, it’s important to understand how the park is laid out and how you can get around.  The park itself is 6 million acres, but only a small portion is accessible by visitors along the park’s 92 mile long Park Road. Although, not all of this 92 mile road is accessible by private vehicle. In fact, the majority is not. And because of this, it can be a bit confusing to visit. So below we are breaking down the park by three different areas and sharing what to expect for each one, how to get around, and more!

The first 15 miles of the park are the easiest (and cheapest!) to visit, plus offers a wide variety of things to do for all activity levels. This is where you can find the main visitor center, a handful of maintained, day hike options, the dog sledding facility, and two large campgrounds. This is also the only part of the park where you can drive your own vehicle! From mile 0-15, you are able to freely drive around the park and this stretch of park road is fully paved, with different pullouts, plus trailheads to enjoy along the way. And if you visit the park on a clear day, you can start to see Denali around mile 9. While we suggest driving your own vehicle to get around this section, you do have the option to take one of the paid park buses (more on that later!) or one of the free shuttles , which can take you to the Mountain View and Savage River trailheads, Riley Creek Campground and Horseshoe Lake trailhead, plus the dog sledding demonstration.

If you want to venture further than mile 15, minus a few exceptions, which we will explain below, you are required to take one of the park buses. You have a couple options to choose from and we will break them down in the “things to do” section of this guide.  There are a few important things to know about this section of the park:

• The road from mile 15-43 is not paved, but is a pretty well maintained gravel road that is suitable for any type of vehicle.
• There aren’t many services in this area, minus a couple campgrounds and a couple of restrooms. 
• There are no maintained trails and this area of the park is best explored by going off trail, which we will discuss later, as well as from the bus window.

Although it is a bit more difficult and expensive to visit this part of the park, we highly recommend it. This is where you get to escape the crowds of the first 15 miles and explore the tundra and wilderness that makes this park special. It’s also a great spot to see wildlife!

Want to drive past mile 15 on your own? Here are three ways you can do so:

Visit in April, May, or mid September If you visit between mid April and mid May, you may have the chance to drive about 30 miles down the park road. The park begins plowing the road in March and until the bus service starts in mid May, you have the opportunity to drive a bit further than normal, weather and conditions permitting. You can check the spring road opening status here ! They also allow private vehicles to go up to 30 miles into the park, once again weather depending, usually about mid-September, after the bus tours end for the season and until snow forces the road to close. Camp at the Teklanika River Campground  The Teklanika River Campground is located at mile 29.1 and you are allowed to drive your personal vehicle to this campground, however, you are not supposed to stop along the way. And once at the campground (which requires a 3 night minimum), your vehicle cannot leave until you check out and you can only explore by bus during your time there, using a special pass called a Tek Pass. While this may seem restrictive, we personally loved it! We were able to camp in our van and have our pup Kona with us, as well as reduce a lot of bus commuting time by being further into the park.

Read more about how to camp at the Teklanika River Campground in our guide , plus watch our video of our experience !

Win the lottery! (Currently NOT being offered) No, not that lottery! Every September the park has a four day event called Road Lottery, where those who win the permit lottery are able to drive as much of the park road as possible, which depending on the weather, can be all the way to the end! This permit costs $25 and the odds are about 1 in 7.  There is also a fifth day offered for active duty military. You can learn more about both of these lotteries here ! NOTE: This is NOT being offered currently, due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide, which we will detail below. But hopefully it will come back, so we wanted to mention it anyway! If none of these options work for you, you do have one more option: ride a bike! Bikes can travel anywhere you’d like on Park Road, but keep in mind that after mile 15, the road is not paved. You can rent bikes from Bike Denali if you need one!

As we mentioned above, the park road is 92 miles long, but unfortunately due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide that happened around mile 45.4 back in August 2021, the park is closed past mile 43. You are still able to take the park buses to just before mile 43 and walk some of the road right until the closure, but you are unable to go any further. They estimate that this part of the park will be closed through summer 2026 , which is a big reason as to why we wanted to write this guide, to help people navigate this closure and still find things to do in Denali National Park!

The one exception: Denali Backcountry Lodge

There is one way you can experience the back half of the park, by visiting Denali Backcountry Lodge ! This lodge requires you to fly on a helicopter to the property and starts at $1,650 a person per day, so it’s definitely not for the vast majority of travelers. But we imagine it would be worth it if you could afford it!

Is it still worth visiting the park with the closures? 

It depends! We personally liked that there was less to do, as it made the park less overwhelming. However, we do hear the best views are past mile 43, so we will be back someday to see that! But you can still have an amazing time in the park with the closures and if you’re going to Alaska already, we would suggest still going. If you want to make a special trip to Alaska just for Denali National Park, you may want to wait. We personally liked the other national parks in Alaska even more than Denali, so it will not ruin your entire trip if you can only experience part of the park.

You aren’t guaranteed to see the mountain

Even though Denali is the tallest mountain in North America, it can still be difficult to see. Only 30% of visitors get to see Denali when they visit because of weather that can block it. We were lucky enough to join the 30% club on our first day in the park! But the remaining three days in the park were too cloudy to see the mountain. The mountain can be seen from the Park Road as early as mile 9 and you get a great view on the Savage Alpine trail too!

Entrance fee

It costs $15 per person for a 7 day pass, for those 16 and older, to visit Denali National Park year round. This is a bit different from other parks, which have a flat fee per vehicle. And also unlike many parks, there is no entrance booth at Denali National Park. You can either buy your pass online in advance , get it at the visitor center, or use an automated pay station at the Murie Science and Learning Center . If you visit many National Parks, we recommend getting the America the Beautiful pass , which is $80 per year and gets you into all National Park Service managed sites and federal lands for free. 

Bear Safety

Alaska is home to all three species of North American bears and in Denali National Park you’ll have a good chance of seeing black bears and grizzly bears. As awesome as that is, it is very important to know what to do if you encounter a bear so you can avoid a negative interaction. 

A few very important tips are:

• Never approach a bear.
• Don’t surprise a bear! Make noise as you are hiking.
• Don’t feed a bear or leave food out for them to get! Feeding them makes them accustomed to humans which will cause them to expect food from humans and increasing the chance of negative encounters. A fed bear is a dead bear.
• Always be alert and look for signs of a bear. If you do encounter a bear, stay calm, ready your deterrent, stand your ground and group up with the other people in your party, talk calmly to the bear and do not run.
• You can read more on the Alaska Fish and Game website to learn more about what to do if you see a bear, as the best approach does vary a bit depending on the species of bear.

Moose Safety

Bears aren’t the only big animal you’ll want to be on the lookout for. While we didn’t see any bears in Denali National Park, we saw quite a few moose! Moose are often viewable from the side of the road, but if you’re like us, you may encounter some on trail. 

Here are some moose safety tips to understand before visiting, so you don’t have a negative encounter:

• Never feed a moose, or any wildlife for that matter. 
• Try to stay at least 50 feet away and if they start approaching you, maintain that distance, and give it the trail. 
• If a moose has its ears back or the hair on the back of its neck raised, it’s probably angry and it might charge you. If you are charged, try to sneak behind a tree and never get between a cow and its calf. 

Cell Coverage

Cell coverage in the park was very good around the visitor center. In fact, we spent days working in the visitor center parking lot before actually exploring the park. But the cell service got worse to non-existent after a few miles away from the visitor center area. 

The visitor center has ample parking, including for RVs! There was a pretty large lot that had pull-through spots, which could fit both truck and trailer style RVs, plus large Class A RVs.

There is one restaurant in the park, the Morino Grill, which is right by the visitor center. However, you can find quite a few options just outside of the park! We personally recommend bringing a packed lunch though.

Dogs can be walked on park roads, campgrounds, or in parking lots, but are not allowed on trails or off-trail in the wilderness, except for Roadside Trail and the Bike Path. Just be careful…we got trapped by 3 moose on this dog friendly section and had to go through bushes to get back to the road. The good thing is that even though your pup cannot enjoy much of the park, you can get your dog fix at the Dog Sled Demonstration in the park! 

Learn how we travel with a dog and what we do with Kona when she cannot join us on our adventures.

Construction

There are two seasons in Alaska, winter and construction season. Many roads across the state will be under construction if you visit in the warmer months and you might encounter long stretches of gravel road and be stalled by waiting in construction traffic. Alaska 511 will be your best best for information on construction and road conditions. During our visit, there was a big chunk of construction near the park that we did have to sit in for a while.

How long do you need?

Denali National Park is a large park, but the areas you can easily visit are relatively small. While you could spend one day exploring the easier to access spots, we’d suggest at least two days to enjoy both the first 15 miles and up to mile 43. We spent a total of four days and really enjoyed that amount of time, as it allowed us to not rush. At the end of this guide we’ll be including different itinerary options, ranging from one to four days! 

The Best Things to do in Denali National Park (between miles 0-15)

Since the experience in Denali National Park varies by area, we will be breaking down the best things to do in Denali National Park by mileage, to hopefully make it easier to plan your own trip. And first up, miles 0-15, which is the area you can explore on your own!

Hiking in Denali National Park is a bit different from other parks. Despite being about 6 million acres, there are only around 35 miles of actual developed and maintained trails in the park, all of which are in the first 15 miles of the park road. Beyond that, you can enjoy off trail hiking, which is something we will share under the “Things to do in Denali National Park (Miles 15-43)” section. Below are the trails you can find in the first part of the park!

Savage Alpine Trail 

Miles (point to point): 4.1 Elevation: 1,414 feet Reviews & Current Conditions The Savage Alpine trail was one of our favorite hikes in the park, especially within the first 15 miles! 

This hike will take you through a little bit of forest, before gaining elevation (it’s pretty steep!) and getting above the treeline, with sweeping views of the valley, the park road below, as well as mountains almost all around. And if you have a clear day you’ll hopefully have the ultimate sight in the park, a view of the Great One, Denali! Compared to the Mount Healy Overlook trail, which we will discuss below, the view from Denali is much better on the Savage Alpine trail, as it’s less obstructed. We feel so lucky that we hiked this on a clear morning and got to see this majestic peak!

The trail itself is pretty rocky once out of the tree filled section, with some steeper, slick gravel to walk on, plus some unique rock formations that you’ll hike between. While none of it is that difficult, having shoes with good grip will help!  One important thing to know about this hike is that you can start and end in different spots, making this a one way hike versus roundtrip. We started at the Mountain Vista Picnic Area and ended at the Savage River Loop Trailhead . 

While you can turn around at the Savage River Loop Trailhead and hike back the way you came, we suggest instead adding on the Savage River Loop trail (more on that below!) for about 6 miles total, and then taking the FREE park shuttle back to the Mountain Vista Picnic Area. You also can park at the visitor center and take the free shuttle to the Mountain Vista Picnic Area and then take it back to the visitor center from the Savage River area, if you don’t want to drive.

To learn more about hiking the Savage Alpine trail, plus Savage River trail, check out our guide to combining both trails , which includes more information on the trails!

Savage River Loop Trail

Distance (round trip): 2.1 miles Elevation:  413 feet Reviews & Current Conditions The Savage River Loop trail starts right at mile 15, but you are allowed to drive here yourself. This is a really short, sweet, and flat hike that offers a lot of bang for your buck. The trail follows the beautiful glacial Savage River for about a mile, when you’ll then cross a bridge (which was closed for us, but we hear has been fixed) and return on the other side of the river. Along the way you’ll have some unique rocky walls surrounding you! We almost didn’t get to do this hike though, as just before we started it, a grizzly bear had been spotted right by the picnic area and they closed the trail. They thankfully reopened it right before we started the hike!

Mount Healy Overlook Trail

Distance (round trip): 6.9 miles (closer to 5 miles if you do not go to the summit) Elevation:  2,483 feet (closer to 1,700 feet if you do not go to the summit) Reviews & Current Conditions Located very close to the beginning of the park, the Mount Healy Overlook trail is a leg burner, but well worth it for the views it affords! The first half of the trail is steep and mostly through the forest, with views behind you.  But don’t worry, you’ll eventually get above the tree line and have more views and after almost 2.5 miles you’ll reach a more open area, where the views really open up! From up here you’ll have 360º views. And if you’re lucky, you may see Denali off in the distance too! It was pretty cloudy for us, but we could make out part of the mountain.

At this spot you’ll notice a sign that says “end of maintained trail.” You can continue on from here to the actual summit (the AllTrails map and stats above are for the actual summit), but from this point forward the trail is not maintained and it’s a pretty steep climb. We were too tired to continue on, but hope to try this next time!  As great as this trail is, if you only have time for one day hike, we’d recommend the Savage Alpine Trail over this one because the Savage Alpine has more expansive views on the way up and we personally thought the view of Denali was more open and closer from the Savage Alpine Trail.

Check out our guide to hiking the Mount Healy Overlook Trail , to learn more about the hike and what to expect along the way!

Horseshoe Lake Trail

Distance (round trip): 2.1 miles Elevation:  393 feet Reviews & Current Conditions The Horseshoe Lake Trail may seem easy and less exciting on paper, as it doesn’t gain a ton of elevation, but we found it to be a very fun and diverse hike. You’ll hike from the park road, across railroad tracks, and through the woods to a beautiful, although partially covered in trees, overlook of Horseshoe Lake, which is shaped like a horseshoe and has a stunning bright blue color in certain areas and when hit by the sunshine. 

The trail then descends down to lake level and you make a figure 8 shape as you hike. Along the way you’ll encounter beaver dams, the Nenana River, and get to walk right along the lakeshore.

To learn more about what to expect along this hike, read our guide to hiking the Horseshoe Lake Trail !

Triple Lakes Trail

Distance (point to point): 9.1 miles Elevation:  1,922 feet Reviews & Current Conditions The Triple Lakes Trail is the longest maintained trail in Denali National Park, at 9.1 miles point to point. You can start from either the north or south end, although most hikers park at the visitor center or from the southern trailhead and only hike a portion of the hike, turning around at the high point after 4-5 miles. The hike is named after the three lakes that are on the southern end of the trail and depending on which portion of the hike you do, you’ll go through the forest, across multiple rivers, plus a suspension bridge (closer to the northern part), as well as have views of the mountains and of some of the lakes from above. There is no park shuttle to take you between the endpoints so if you’d like to hike the entire trail, we read that there may be some taxi services in the area you can hire to help you, or if you’re staying at one of the nearby accommodations, they might be able to arrange a shuttle service for you. 

McKinley Station Trail

Distance (round trip): 3.2 miles Elevation: 446 feet Reviews & Current Conditions The McKinley Station Trail begins near the Visitor Center and winds through the forest a bit and takes you by the river, where you can see a cool railroad trestle. While we wouldn’t pick this hike over the others, if you want an easier stroll, this is a good option!

Rock Creek Trail

Distance (round trip): 5.1 miles Elevation: 1,000 feet Reviews & Current Conditions The Rock Creek Trail is more of a nature walk through the forest, with occasional mountain views. The highlight of this trail is that you’ll end at the dog sled demonstration area and you can walk in and visit with the dogs. You can return the way you came, walk the Roadside Trail, or take the park shuttle back to the Visitor Center where you started. You can also take the shuttle to the dog sled demonstration and then walk this trail back instead!

Roadside Trail

Distance (round trip): 4.2 miles Elevation: 767 feet Reviews & Current Conditions The Roadside Trail parallels the Park Road, leading you to the dog kennels. It is similar to the Rock Creek Trail, except it is closer to the road. It is still pretty forested though! We used this trail to walk back from the dog sled demonstration and it was a nice alternative to taking the shuttle. This is also one of the only dog friendly trails in the park!

One thing that Alaska is famous for is dog sledding, specifically the Iditarod, which is a long distance race that occurs every March. And since 1922, Denali National Park has had sled dogs, which help rangers patrol the park in the winter!  The park offers free sled dog demonstrations in the summertime during three time slots each day, at 10 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM. During this demonstration you’ll get to see the dogs run a short loop track, plus learn a bit about how dog sledding works and the different roles the dogs have. But the best part is that both before and after you can meet the dogs! 

There is very limited parking by the sled dog facility, so we suggest either taking the free dog sled shuttle to get to it, which leaves 40 mins before the demonstration, or you can walk 1.5 miles each way along the Roadside trail (or Rock Creek trail). On our visit we didn’t want to risk not finding parking for our large van, so we took the shuttle and then walked the Roadside trail back.

The Denali National Park Visitor Center is really nice! They have a park film you can watch, different exhibits about the park, and you can speak with a park ranger to answer any questions you may have.  Beyond the visitor center, there is also the Murie Science and Learning Center , which is located at mile 1.3. In the summer rangers give a talk from 1-3 PM and you can see the exhibits that share about fossilized dinosaur footprints. In the winter, the Murie Science and Learning Center acts as the main visitor center. If you decide to visit then, this is a good spot to chat with the rangers and even borrow snowshoes!

The Best Things to do in Denali National Park (between miles 15-43)

The Denali Park Road is 92 miles and for those looking to venture further into the park than mile 15, you will need to purchase a ticket to ride one of the park buses. As of 2024 and through summer 2026, the park bus will only go to just before mile 43, due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide, but it is still worth taking the bus beyond mile 15, in our opinion! You have a choice between a non-narrated transit bus and a narrated tour bus to choose from and below is a breakdown of the options! 

Non-narrated transit bus

Cost: $33.25 for adults (free for children 15 and younger) and can be purchased through the park concessionaire . The price for the bus ride does NOT include entrance to the park. Bus Color: Green Length: 4.5 hours round trip, not including any stops you make. Who it is best for: Those who want to hike in this area of the park, including walking the riverbeds, walking part of the road closure, and hiking off trail!

The non-narrated transit bus is for those interested in an off trail hiking experience or want to experience the park on their own terms. These buses are here to move people around the park and are a hop on, hop off style, with the ability to get off anywhere you wish, not just at designated stops.  Along the ride, the bus driver will make restroom stops, stop for wildlife, and provide basic information about the park, but will not provide a formal talk or program. However, all of our drivers shared different facts and information along the ride, so we still feel like we learned a lot along the way.

The drivers were also very knowledgeable about the park and helped us in deciding which off trail hike we wanted to pursue. And if you do want to hike off trail, you will simply tell the driver to drop you off wherever you’d like to start your hike and you can be picked up anywhere along the road, just by waving down a green bus as it approaches (not the tan ones, those are narrated and do not pick up hikers). There does need to be space for them to pick you up, but we didn’t encounter any issues.   The buses leave from the visitor center and go all the way to East Fork, just before mile 43, and then turn around. Most people will get off here and walk the riverbed or walk the road closure as far as you can go, which we loved doing (and will share more about below)!

During peak season there are more than 20 buses traveling along the road and they leave about every 30 minutes, so you won’t have to wait long for another bus to come by. Be sure to bring a lunch or snacks with you because once you leave the visitor center area, there is no food to purchase!

Narrated tour bus

Cost: $116.25-$144.00 for adults ($50.75-$64.50 for children 15 and younger), depending on the tour. These can be purchased through the park concessionaire and DOES include entrance to the park. Bus Color: Tan Length: 4.5-5.5 hours round trip, depending on the tour. Who it is best for: Those who want to learn as much information as possible and would rather see the park from a bus, instead of getting to hike or explore on their own.

On the narrated bus you will be driven by a trained naturalist who will provide an informative trip into the park. This bus is intended for visitors who want to be guided through the park and learn more about the park’s culture and history, rather than hike and explore on their own. In contrast with the transit buses, visitors will stay with the same bus the entire tour rather than getting off and re-boarding onto other buses.  Currently there are two different tours you can choose from and those are the Denali Natural History Tour and the Tundra Wilderness Tour (the longer and more expensive of the two). These bus tours are offered from mid-May to mid-September. Denali Natural History Tour On the Denali Natural History tour you’ll learn all about the natural and cultural history of Denali National Park over 4.5 to 5 hours. The tour makes several stops along the way including the Savage Cabin, an Alaska Native presentation where you’ll learn how the land has been used for over 10,000 years, and for any wildlife sightings.  It costs $116.25 for adults and $50.75 for kids (15 and younger) and the entrance fee to the park is included in the price and you do get a water bottle.  Tundra Wilderness Tour This tour is a 5.5 hour experience that takes you as far as you can go on the Park Road to where the road currently ends. Along the way you’ll stop for wildlife and once at East Fork you’ll learn about Adolf Murie and explore his cabin, where he conducted his wildlife research during the 30s and 40s.  The tour costs $144 per adult and $64.50 for those 15 and younger. The entrance fee to the park is included in this price and you do get a water bottle and snack pack!

Walk the road closure

As we mentioned above, the Transit bus can take you all the way to East Fork, which is where the road is closed due to the Pretty Rocks Landslide. However, there is still about 2 miles of road that you are able to walk once getting off the bus! While you will be walking on a gravel road, which doesn’t sound too exciting, the views were phenomenal! We could see tons of mountains, including some that had an orange hue to them, plus we saw a bunch of caribou down below.

The walk along the road ends right where the official road closure is, which is marked by signs and orange barriers. From here, you can see the actual landslide, which is pretty wild to see. And what is even crazier is that people rode on a bus on this road just days before the landslide…can you imagine knowing you just missed it?!

After walking the entire road, we went down to the river, right by the bus stop and enjoyed wandering around for a bit down there. It is a braided river, with many different streams of water and places to hop across the river. We saw another caribou enjoying the riverbed as well!

Unlike many national parks, which require you to stay on trail, Denali is a bit different, as off trail hiking is not only allowed, but encouraged . As avid Leave No Trace followers, this was a weird concept to us, as we always try to stick to existing routes, but after talking with many rangers we did confirm that yes, it’s totally okay to go off trail! The reason for this is that since the park is so vast, having off trail routes helps eliminate the same areas being constantly worn down by hikers. We will say though, off trail hiking is daunting and we struggled to find much information about where to even hike off trail! They say you can go almost anywhere, but how do you even know where to start?  So below we are sharing your two main options for hiking off trail, one of which is with a ranger and the other, totally on your own. 

Discovery Hikes

The easiest way to hike off trail is to sign up for a Discovery Hike , which is a ranger led off trail hike. On these experiences you’ll meet with a ranger and then ride a park bus out to your hiking destination. The Discovery Hike is free to sign up, but you’ll need to purchase a transit bus ticket to ride on the park bus if your hike begins past the mile 15 checkpoint.  However, there is a specific “disco bus” (disco=discovery) for you, so you won’t have to worry about park buses selling out. Also, if you’ve already purchased a bus ticket, but end up signing up for a Discovery Hike, your ticket can be exchanged, although it is the same price.  Discovery Hikes are offered starting mid-June and you can reserve a spot on a Discovery Hike only in person at the visitor center (with everyone in your group present), just one to two days beforehand. When you sign up, the rangers will discuss with you what the upcoming options are for hikes, including distance, difficulty, etc. If you decide to do a Discovery Hike, plan to spend up to 10 hours on the experience. The bus ride itself could be up to 2 hours each way and you could be hiking anywhere from 3-5 hours. During the experience, your ranger will lead you on an off trail hike over all sorts of terrain and the hikes will vary in difficulty from more flat and easy to more elevation gain and large river crossings.

Off trail hiking independently

We considered doing a Discovery Hike, but ultimately decided to try a hike on our own. And it turned out to be our favorite experience in the park! However, we had quite a bit of anxiety about the experience beforehand. We had read about some routes online, but still felt pretty clueless about where to go. So we talked to several rangers both in the visitor center, on the bus, and at mile 43 road closure trying to get a grasp of a good starting point for us.  We wanted a medium challenging experience that wouldn’t take all day (as Kona was going to be in our van at the Teklanika River Campground) and would be relatively easy to follow. And we ultimately decided to hike up to Mount Margaret, which we loved! You can view our AllTrails activity if you’d like to replicate it and you can also watch our experience in this video .

Want to get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership ? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)! We use AllTrails+ on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.

We let our bus driver know where we wanted to hike and he dropped us off alongside the road, right where there was a slight opening in the brush. Although there was a short section of thick brush to get through before we got above the treeline (we made LOTS of noise here to hopefully scare off bears!), it was very open after that, which made it easy to see where to go. We also had a slightly beaten down path to follow, which almost made it feel like it was an actual trail. Along the hike we walked along the tundra, with amazing mountain views and we even saw about 22 Dall Sheep off in the distance! Minus a small group of people at the beginning, we also had the entire trail to ourselves, which made the experience extra special for us. 

The beauty of off trail hiking is that you can go as little or as far as you’d like. We hiked up to a ridgeline, which was like another world! It was such a vast and open area with crazy rock formations and plenty of rocks to sit on and enjoy lunch. It also started to get really foggy, which added a moody element to the hike! Turning around and heading back was straightforward, as we could see the road the entire time and we had also tracked our route on AllTrails, making us feel confident that we wouldn’t get lost. We safely made it back down to the road and waited alongside the road for the next green hiker bus going west, waving down the first one that we saw. We hopped on and enjoyed an easy ride back to our campsite, feeling super accomplished for what we achieved on our own! 

Tips for off trail hiking:

• If you have the time, what many people do is get on the green transit bus as early as possible and go as far as the bus can take you, making note of some spots that look like they would interest you to hike to. Then, on the way back, let your driver know where you’d like to be let off and then begin your hike. You can also ask the driver what spot would be good to do an off trail hike and they can take you to a starting point.
• If the route that we did seems too daunting to try on your own, one easier option for an off trail hike is to walk along the braided river at East Fork. This is where the transit bus will turn around and you can get off here and walk along the river as far as you’d like.
• Once you finish your hike you just hang out along the road and wait for the next green transit bus to come by, which is usually every 30-60 minutes, and wave them down. It would be helpful to have a copy of the bus schedule on your phone so you can have an idea when the next bus will be coming by, as there will be no cell service.

How to have the least amount of impact on your off trail hike and stay safe:

• Do not travel in a single file line. Make sure to spread out!
• Hike on durable surfaces when possible. The tundra is fragile, so stick to rocks when you can!
• Be prepared with plenty of water and food.
• Let someone know your plan.
• Expect bad weather and be prepared with layers.
• Carry a first aid kit and the 10 essentials .
• Try to track your hike on AllTrails so that you can follow your route back and not get lost.
• We would only recommend off trail hiking to experienced hikers and ones that have the ability to track their route with GPS.

Other things to do in Denali National Park

There are a variety of tour options you can take in and near Denali National Park, which can add some extra adventure (and even more epic views) to your visit!

Flightseeing tour

For the ultimate view of Denali and the park, go on a flightseeing tour! This is something we’d love to do on a future trip, as we have heard it is truly spectacular! There are several operators in the area to choose from.  Fly Denali Based out of Healy, Fly Denali offers a handful of different flightseeing tours. They fly four times per day and recommend you make your reservation as soon as possible. Denali Air Flightseeing Tours Denali Air Flightseeing Tours is located the closest of any to Denali National Park, so almost all of your flight will be inside the park. This tour operator has up to seven flights per day, so they are very flexible if you need to reschedule or adjust your reservation. K2 Aviation K2 Aviation is a popular tour provider based out of Talkeetna, which is about 100 miles south of the park. We heard especially good things about this company! They offer a variety of tour options, ranging in cost, with the chance to add on a glacier landing as well! Talkeetna Air Service This flightseeing tour with glacier landing also leaves from Talkeetna, AK and looks amazing!

Helicopter Tour

Prefer to fly on a helicopter? You could also go on a helicopter tour with TEMSCO Helicopters Inc . 

Go Whitewater Rafting

One activity that we saw many people do in Denali National Park was whitewater rafting ! This tour with Denali Raft Adventures will take you down the Nenana River, right by Denali National Park!

Another epic way to enjoy the park would be to bike the Park Road. Bikes can go anywhere on the Park Road, minus wildlife and construction closures. eBikes are also allowed, as long as they are under 750 Watts and (you can see all eBike rules here ).

Denali National Park Itinerary Options

This option is best for those who want to hike in the park and experience the best things the first 15 miles has to offer!

• Start the day with a hike on the Savage Alpine trail, with the addition of the Savage River Loop trail. We suggest starting at the Mountain View trailhead and then taking the free shuttle back from the Savage River trailhead.
• Head towards the visitor center, which will be your homebase for the rest of the day. 
• If you’re not too tired from the Savage Alpine trail, hike the Mount Healy Overlook!
• Attend one of the sled dog demonstrations, taking the bus at least one of the directions.
• Hike the Horseshoe Lake trail to end the day!

This option is best for those who want to see as much of the scenery as they can in the park and don’t want to spend as much time hiking.

• Take one of the bus tours! You could either do a narrated bus or take the transit bus and add on some time around mile 43 to explore the road closure area.
• If you have any additional time after your tour, do one of the day hikes in the first 15 miles of the park or go see the sled dog demonstration!

If you have two days in the park, we suggest combining the two one day options above to make the perfect two days in Denali National Park!

• Start the day with a hike on the Savage Alpine trail, with the addition of the Savage River trail. We suggest starting at the Mountain View trailhead and then taking the free shuttle back from the Savage River trailhead.
• Take the transit bus tour to mile 43 and spend a couple hours exploring the riverbed and also the road closure area.
• Do an off trail hike! You can either do one of the Discovery Hikes or take the transit bus and have it drop you off in a spot that looked good to hike at the day before!
• If off trail hiking isn’t for you, spend this day hiking more in the first 15 miles, including the Triple Lakes trail!

This itinerary is perfect for anyone staying at the Teklanika River Campground, as it will incorporate many activities in the back half of the park! 

• Hike the Mount Healy Overlook to start the day!
• After finishing the hike, make the quick hike to Horseshoe Lake.
• Attend one of the sled dog demonstrations, taking the bus one or both ways, depending on how much time you have and how early you want to get to the campsite.
• Pick up your campsite permit at Riley Creek Mercantile and then head out to the Teklanika River Campground.
• Drive out to the Teklanika River Campground and enjoy the rest of the night there!
• Using your Tek Pass, take the transit bus to mile 43 and spend a couple hours exploring the riverbed and also the road closure area.
• Head back to the Teklanika River Campground and enjoy a relaxing rest of the day there!
• Do an off trail hike! Since you will not be able to get on a Discovery Hike from the Teklanika River Campground, you will need to take the transit bus and have it drop you off in a spot that looked good to hike at the day before.
• Make the drive from the Teklanika River Campground back to the first 15 miles of the park. 
• Hike the Savage Alpine trail and Savage River trail!

Denali National Park is technically open year-round, but as you may expect with the park being in Alaska, the park gets a lot of snow (55 inches of snow fell within a 7 day period this past December!) and most of the park is inaccessible for the majority of the year. So with that said, for a snow free experience, we’d suggest visiting between mid May and mid September, which is when the 43 open miles of the park road is accessible and the buses will be operating (these exact dates may vary year to year, check the park website for up to date information). By visiting during this timeframe, you’ll be able to experience mostly snow free trails (there may be some lingering snow), go as deep into the park as currently allowed, camp within the park, and take advantage of park amenities, like the visitor center. As for the weather in the summer, temperatures can range from the 30s at night and early in the mornings to the 60s-70s during the hottest part of the day. However, one thing to be aware of is that June-August is the rainy season at Denali National Park, so make sure to be prepared for some rain and even the off chance of some snow.  Another thing to know is that fall in Alaska starts at the end of August, so if you visit towards the beginning of September, you’ll have a good chance of seeing some fall foliage in the park, which looks stunning! We visited around June 17-20, 2022 and had one very sunny day, a couple partly sunny days, and a couple cloudy days with the occasional quick rain storms. We encountered very little snow on trails and the crowds also weren’t that bad either!

How to get to Denali National Park

The two most popular airports in Alaska are the Ted Stevens Airport (ANC) in Anchorage and Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) in Fairbanks. Both of these airports are good options to fly into when visiting Denali National Park, with the best choice depending on what else you plan to do during your trip.

Whether you fly or drive to Alaska, there is a good chance you will also have to drive to Denali National Park, as it’s a bit of a trek from both major airports. Denali National Park is a little over 4 hours drive north of Anchorage (239 miles) via the Parks Highway (AK-3) and a 2 hour 10 minute drive (123 miles) south from Fairbanks via the Parks Highway (AK-3). However, summer is construction season in Alaska, so we’d advise planning for additional time than the hours listed. Although Fairbanks is the closer starting point for visiting Denali National Park, Anchorage is closer to the majority of the drive-able destinations in Alaska. If you plan to do Denali first, we’d suggest starting from Fairbanks and then leaving from Anchorage.

Planning to drive to Alaska? We have created the Ultimate guide to driving the Alaska Highway , which covers all the logistics and must visit stops on this epic journey to Alaska.

Don’t want to drive to Denali National Park? Another popular way to get to Denali National Park in the summer is by train. The Denali Star Train operates from late May to early September and looks to be an amazing scenic ride, although it is a bit pricey! One perk of the train is that the train depot at Denali National Park is only a 5 minute walk from the visitor center, so you could get away without having a car and experience Denali by utilizing the park’s shuttles and buses.

As we mentioned above, you can only take your personal vehicle up to mile 15 in the park, unless you meet one of the exceptions we listed. Beyond that, you will need to take one of the buses. There are three bus options, including a free hiker shuttle to get to the trailheads within the first 15 miles, a narrated tour bus , and a non-narrated transit bus , which is solely to transport you. We will share more insight into the narrated vs. transit bus in the “things to do in Denali National Park (miles 15-43)” section, so you can decide what is best for you. While you could visit the park without a car, by taking the train in, for most visitors, having your car or renting a car will give you more flexibility. It is a long drive to Denali National Park and there is a lot to see and do along the way as well!

Where to Stay in Denali National Park

There are a variety of options of where to stay when visiting Denali National Park, ranging from nearby hotels and lodges, to camping inside the park.

There are 6 campgrounds inside Denali National Park, but only 5 are currently accessible. Minus the Riley Creek Campground, which is open year round (and free in the winter!), all of the campgrounds are only open in the summer.  For all campgrounds, you will need to make reservations in advance on reservedenali.com . However, even though you reserve a site in advance, your exact site will be chosen when you arrive at the campground. Another thing to note is that none of the campgrounds offer water or electric hookups for RVs, but they do have a dump station at the Riley Creek Campground, as well as laundry and shower facilities. Something else good to know, that we didn’t know, is that you will check in for your campsite for any of the campgrounds at either the Riley Mercantile or the Backcountry Center . We stayed in the Teklanika River Campground, which is past the mile 15 checkpoint, and assumed you would check in for the campsite at the checkpoint, but that is not the case and they will send you all 15 miles back to the beginning of the park to check in…don’t ask us how we know this! 😜

Riley Creek Campground

The Riley Creek Campground is the largest campground in the park and most accessible, as it’s located just minutes inside the park. It is also close to many conveniences and amenities, including the visitor center, businesses outside the park, and the Riley Creek Mercantile (which is just steps away!) which features a general store, camping supplies, food, shower house, laundry facilities, and an RV dump and water fill station.  Most of the sites are open for tents and RVs. One of the loops is for walk-in tent campers only on a first come, first served basis and cannot be reserved ahead of time. But for the rest of the sites, make sure to reserve ahead!

Savage River Campground

The Savage River Campground is located at Mile 14 and has 32 sites that will accommodate both RVs and tents.  Since it is located before the 15 mile check station, private vehicles can be driven to and from the campground freely. If you don’t have a vehicle or you want to leave your vehicle at the campground, there is a free bus called the Savage River Shuttle that will take you between the campground and park entrance.  A big perk of this campground is that on a clear day Denali can be seen a short walk from the campground. Only this campground and the Wonder Lake campground (closed until further notice) offer that!

Sanctuary River Campground

The Sanctuary River Campground is a very small campground with only 7 tent sites. It is located at Mile 22 and can only be accessed by the park bus (no cars are allowed to drive here, unlike Teklanika River).  There is no electricity or water so you must bring a method to purify your water. The nearby Sanctuary River runs close to the campground and it runs clear for most of the year. 

Teklanika River Campground

We stayed at the Teklanika River Campground (nicknamed Tek) at mile 29.1 and it was a unique and fun experience! There are 2 loops in the campground and all sites can accommodate RVs (up to 40 feet) and tents. The sites are spaced out a good amount and many offer lots of shade, while others don’t have as much tree cover, which is good for someone who relies on solar power, like us! There is potable water for filling water jugs and very nice pit toilets, but no other facilities.  Although the campground is located at mile 29.1, you are allowed to drive your personal vehicle to this campground, however once at the campground (which requires a 3 night minimum), your vehicle cannot leave until you check out and you can only explore by bus. You do get a special pass called a Tek Pass, which allows you to ride the bus multiple times for one fee!

To learn more, check out our guide to camping at the Teklanika River Campground (coming soon!) , which includes more information on the rules, how to get around from the park using a Tek Pass, and things to do while staying there!

Igloo Creek Campground

The Igloo Creek Campground is a very small campground similar to the Sanctuary River Campground. The campground has 7 tent only sites, a pit toilet, and no potable water. Water can be obtained from Igloo Creek and runs clear, but do bring a way to filter it.  It is located at mile 35 and is accessed only by park bus, no private vehicles allowed.

Waugaman Village RV Park Waugaman Village RV Park is located just a few miles away from the park entrance. We didn’t stay here, but the Google reviews are pretty good. They don’t have a website so you must contact them by phone in order to reserve a site.  Cantwell RV Park We stayed here for one night before we went into the park because we needed to hook up to charge our batteries and we can recommend this place. It is a standard RV park that is basically a parking lot, but it has hot showers and laundry. It is about 30 minutes south of the park entrance, but is a bit cheaper than the options right by the park and was worth the extra drive.

Along the Parks Highway (Route 3) there are many pull offs where you can sleep overnight. We stayed here and here (this is a neat spot, but very loud from the noise from the bridge) during our time in the area. While some pullouts do say “no overnight parking or camping,” these two did not and we usually had a neighbor sleeping there with us. There are several spots south of the park about 45 minutes that are much more serene and beautiful. We found iOverlander to be the best website to find free camping in Alaska and Canada.  FYI: You cannot sleep overnight in national park parking lots.

Curious how we find free campsites? Check out our detailed guide to free camping to learn which tools we use, rules to follow, and other tips! 

Aurora Denali Lodge Denali Tri-Valley Cabins

Denali Park, AK

Tonglen Lake Lodge Denali Hostel & Cabins

Cantwell, AK

Backwoods Lodge

The Taiga 2 – Studio Apartment (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom) The Firewood Cabin at Alpenglow Ridge (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom)

The Copper Cabin – studio (1 bedroom, 1 bathroom) Cabin close to Denali Park (2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)

What to bring with you to Denali National Park

Hiking gear

If you’re doing any hiking, make sure to bring the appropriate hiking gear with you (see what all we take here !). We also always recommend having the 10 essentials on you!  One key hiking item to bring are good hiking shoes, as some trails are a bit rockier. Kathryn rocks Lowa Women’s Renegade GTX on the trails and she LOVES them! Adam wears the ALTRA Lone Peak 6 Trail Running Shoe , which is a trail running shoe, so they are less bulky than boots, but still great for the trail. 

Trekking poles

Trekking poles can really be a big help, especially on off trail hiking. We have the Black Diamond Equipment Distance Z poles and highly recommend them!

Weather in Alaska can be extremely unpredictable. One minute it feels like a cold, windy winter day and the next the clouds part, the sun is beaming, and it feels like summer. Carrying some layers with you helps you be prepared for a day in Alaska. 

Rain jacket and rain pants

Similar to above, it can rain or snow any day of the year so having rain gear is recommended. Kathryn wears the Patagonia Torrentshell jacket and Adam wears a Columbia rain jacket .  Rain pants or waterproof pants are another highly recommended item that we did not have, but will hopefully have in the future for Alaska trips. The reason being that many trails in Alaska, including off trail in Denali, require you to go through brush, which can often be wet and soak your pants.

Denali National Park and Alaska are home to a variety of wildlife, including bears. Specifically, both black bears and grizzly bears, with grizzlies being the more aggressive of the two. Although we didn’t see any bears in Denali National Park, you have a good chance of seeing one and carrying bear spray is highly recommended. We always had our bear spray strapped to our hip or chest when we were hiking on trails and even walking along the roadside trail with Kona. Not only is it important to have bear spray on you, but you need to have it readily available and know how to use it. We’d recommend watching this video that explains how to use bear spray, if you aren’t familiar. 

Bug Repellent 

If you haven’t heard, the common joke is that the state bird of Alaska is the mosquito. Inland Alaska is definitely where they can be the worst and Denali National Park was one of the few areas in Alaska where we noticed mosquitoes. Make sure to bring bug spray with DEET ! We also brought a Thermacell for camping and we think it helped some.

Sun Protection

You’ll often be hiking above the treeline, which therefore means having zero to no shade, and even on cloudy days in the park you’ll want to have sun protection. Sunscreen and a hat will be very helpful! 

The vastness of Denali National Park is truly remarkable. You’ll be able to see very long distances, so carrying binoculars is a great way to get a closer look! We have the Bushnell H20 Roof Prism binoculars and we love them! They came in real handy when we spotted some caribou at the park road closure. 

Pin this list of things to do in Denali National Park to help plan your trip!

get the behind the scenes scoop!

3 thoughts on “ the ultimate guide to visiting denali national park (things to do, road closure info, & itineraries) ”.

Adam & Kathryn, Your videos in AK are fun and interesting. There are places I am planning to go after watching you talk about them. I was glad to see that you have published these written articles. Again, these are very well done, informative, and thorough. We are heading to AK in July 2023. Thanks for your help!

Thank you so much for reading Maizee! We love writing these guides, it allows us to give much more info than we can in a video!

We love watching your videos. I only just discovered your blog as we begin planning for our Summer 2024 Alaska trip. Thank you so much for all the detailed information!

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Bike Denali E-Bike Rentals

 ALASKA

Exploring Denali National Park on an electric-powered bicycle provides a unique and enriching perspective on the park that can’t be matched by any other mode of transportation!

Traveling through the Denali National Park front-country by bicycle is one of the best ways to experience the park. The slower pace allows you to take in all of the sights and sounds of the park and breathe in the pleasing aromas of the pine forests, the budding wild flowers and the alpine grasses as they slowly warm under the spring and summer sunshine.

Exploring Denali by bicycle also allows you the freedom to pause and take in all the wonderful scenery and inspiring vistas around the park. You are able to take your time and explore at your own pace and convenience.

Ride all the way to Savage River (15 miles inside the park) or beyond, experiencing the wildlife and grand vistas along the way including amazing views of Denali peak (weather permitting).

If you are worried about your stamina, don’t be. Long stretches of road… steep hills… these are not a problem with an e-bike! The e-bikes provided by Bike Denali are equipped with powerful, and quiet electric motors providing pedal assist that makes it easy to charge right up the steepest hills and conquer the most intimidating stretches of road with ease and comfort.

Bike Denali has its headquaters located near Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge around 1.5 miles to the entrance to Denali National Park. You can pick up your bike and ride straight into paradise without skipping a beat.

Your e-bike rental package comes with an e-bike sized according to your stature and comfort, along with racks, panniers, bear spray with handlebar mount, bike lock, helmet and quality rain gear.

Standard rental packages includes 4, 8 and 12 hour rental options. Four-hour packages should be sufficient for most people to venture into the park all the way to Savage River (15 miles inside the park) without rushing your experience. However if you would like more time to take it slower for enjoying some hiking or a lunch stop along the way, or if you wish to venture to other areas in and around the park with your bike, than the 8 or 12-hour options are probably a better choice.

Call to book your reservations today!

• Explore at your own pace & take in all of the wonder of the park road!
• Powerful electric motors provide pedal assist and make the journey effortless.
• Additional batteries are available for the twelve hour rentals for $39 each.
• All packages include racks, panniers, bear spray with handlebar mount, bike lock, helmet and quality rain gear.
• Begin your biking adventure just outside the park entrance... grab your bike and ride straight into paradise!

Terms & Policies

Reservation policy:.

Late return e-bikes will be charged a $20 fee plus applicable time charges.

Full amount due at time of booking

Cancel Policy:

Bike and e-bike package rentals are fully refundable up to 7 days before the scheduled date. Rentals are then refundable at 90% up to 48 hours prior, and 70% thereafter.

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